Electromagnetic beam switch especially for laser resonators

Abstract

An electromagnetic beam switch for a laser resonator or generator, specifically for the guided or controlled transmission of light into a light conductor has two electrically controllable rotary magnets arranged in twin fashion for redundancy. Each rotary magnet operates a filter glass plate to tilt these plates into the beam path for interrupting the beam generation. The plates (13a, 13b) cooperate with respective switch contacts in corresponding switches (14, 15) arranged so that during activation, that is during switching-on, both rotary magnets (11, 12) are connected in parallel with each other. Upon completion of a "flight phase " or switch over phase the rotary magnets are automatically connected in series with each other to operate at half power as compared to the initial full power energizing phase. RC-components are arranged to prevent a constant activation of the magnets.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. An electromagnetic beam switch, especially for interrupting a laser beam path, comprising two rotary electromagnets arranged for rotation on a mounting bracket, a filter glass plate connected to each of said rotary magnets for tilting both filter glass plates into said laser beam path, two electrical switches arranged to be operated by a respective one of said filter glass plates, each switch having a normally closed contact and a normally open contact, a magnet energizing electric circuit means in which said normally closed contacts connect said electromagnets initially in parallel with each other for energization at full power and in which a closing of said normally open contacts by said filter glass plates connects said magnets in series with each other for continuing energization at half power, said circuit means further comprising an R-C-network means connected to said electromagnets for preventing a permanent or prolonged holding of said electromagnets. 
     
     
       2. The switch of claim 1, wherein each of said R-C-networks is arranged in series with its respective electromagnet as long as said electromagnets are connected in parallel with each other during an initial energization, and wherein said R-C-networks are switched off when said electromagnets are connected in series. 
     
     
       3. The switch of claim 1, further comprising a monitoring and control circuit (20) arranged for ascertaining whether said normally closed contacts are actually closed and for preventing energization of said circuit means if one of said normally closed contacts (14a, 15a) is not actually closed.